laptop & wireless ......card? (for bike trips)
Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2012 8:16 pm
I bought a "Ram Mount" for my GS3, and I mount it to the handlebars, hooked to a power port under the fairing.
With the right apps you can have wonderful navigation with offline topo maps (for when you're out of coverage area).
When you're in coverage, not only do you have a phone and GPS, but you have realtime weather, traffic, even severe weather alerts, restaurant and hotel finders with ratings, instant sharing of the photos you take, books,music and movies for campout entertainment and pretty much anything else you can think of.
I actually don't leave home without one. On long trips I usually have two (work and personal) on different carriers. Gotta have a backup, right? It's so much more convenient to carry a smartphone than a laptop, or if I must have a larger screen I just throw my 7" tablet in the panniers, it's much smaller and easier to pack than a laptop.
When I'm out riding, most people know to text me rather than call, and I get back to them at the next stop. Seems to work well.
-Jeff Khoury
----- Original Message ----- From: "Ron Haraseth" To: "DSN KLR650" DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com> Sent: Saturday, October 20, 2012 5:40:01 PM Subject: Re: [DSN_KLR650] laptop & wireless ......card? (for bike trips) Check out the program inSSIDer. It will show you EVERY Wi-Fi hotspot in your vicinity. Windows, Mac, and Android versions. Freeware. Very good. Scary to drive across town while logging. It will indicate the type of encryption and show open hotspots (entry beware!!!) Ron -----Original Message----- From: RobertWichert Sent: Saturday, October 20, 2012 6:28 PM To: Jeff Khoury Cc: mark ward ; List KLR ; Fred Hink Subject: Re: [DSN_KLR650] laptop & wireless ......card? (for bike trips) Most available free hotspots I have found are Starbucks. Actually, they may not be free. But they are very frequent. Most cheap motels have free WiFi too. Just park in their parking lot! Robert Wichert P.Eng. LEED AP BD&C +1 916 966 9060 FAX +1 916 966 9068 =============================================== On 10/20/2012 1:34 PM, Jeff Khoury wrote: > > The USB Mobile data cards that I've used are a monthly deal, usually > $15-$30 per month with free adaptor on contract. I am issued one by my > employer for emergency communications. > > However, if you have a modern Android or Apple smartphone, most of > them have mobile hotspot capability built right in, you just have to > switch it on. Most carriers charge the same $15-$30 for unlimited use > of the hotspot. > > For instance, I have a Galaxy S3 from T-Mobile, and if I go on trips I > simply add that service for the month that I'll be gone, so it only > ends up costing me $15.00 extra on top of my already unlimited data plan. > > You can also "root" your android phone and install various "hacked" > hotspots for free, but that voids your warranty and your agreement > with your carrier; proceed at your own risk. > > -Jeff Khoury > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "mark ward" < nomad59@... > > To: "List KLR" < DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com > >, "Fred Hink" > < moabmc@... > > Sent: Saturday, October 20, 2012 1:16:59 PM > Subject: Re: [DSN_KLR650] laptop & wireless ......card? (for bike trips) > > I have that built into both my lap tops, and use local Motels, subways > etc. as you said. > > What I seen, plugs into the USB port and use's phone towers. > > So when out camping etc. (Or in the middle of Kansas), and no > buildings, but still have phone coverage, you can still get on the > web. (check the weather etc) > > I've also found when passing threw, many motels, small Insurance co., > parts stores, etc, will allow you to check the weather etc, then > theres always the Library. > > --- On Sat, 10/20/12, Fred Hink < moabmc@... > > wrote: > > From: Fred Hink < moabmc@... > > Subject: Re: [DSN_KLR650] laptop & wireless ......card? (for bike trips) > To: "List KLR" < DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com > >, "mark ward" < > nomad59@... > > Date: Saturday, October 20, 2012, 8:03 PM > > Most all newer Laptops come with a wireless card already built in. > There is wireless just about most places in town these days. You can > find wireless in most motels, restaurants, libraries and finer > motorcycle shops like Arrowhead Motorsports. Best of all, IT S FREE! > > If your laptop doesn t have a wireless card, then the USB wireless > adapter should work and they are pretty cheap as well. > http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=7205505&CatId=2704 > > > Fred > http://www.arrowheadmotorsports.com > > From: mark ward > Sent: Saturday, October 20, 2012 1:33 PM > To: List KLR > Subject: [DSN_KLR650] laptop & wireless ......card? (for bike trips) > > Hey all > > I have seen people use a usb type item that gives them web access to > there lap top, where ever there is cell tower coverage. > > They said there are, "pay as you go" or Monthly usage. > > At this time I would only want it when on Trips, 4-5 months a yr., > check the weather, emails etc., > > Anyone use these?? > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ List Sponsors - Dual Sport News: http://www.dualsportnews.com Arrowhead Motorsports: http://www.arrowheadmotorsports.com List FAQ courtesy of Chris Krok: http://www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html Member Map: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DSN_KLR650/app/peoplemap/view/map Group Apps: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DSN_KLR650/grouplets/subscriptionsYahoo ! Groups Links